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Rating: All those who were young, beardless kids but with discerning ears already in the first half of the '80s and later became devotees of metal towards the latter half of that decade, I said maybe, in some corner more or less distant of their/our curious conscience, they/we have always wondered how it would be to revive some songs of the caliber of "Wild Boys" by Duran Duran or "Shout" by Tears for Fear in a metal version. Perhaps in a death metal version. Perhaps redone by a death metal band with the right attention to keep an 'eighty attitude alive (like "Everything Counts" by Depeche Mode redone by In Flames).
That sly fox Alex Krull, the mind and singer (let’s say screamer, that’s better...) of the German deathsters Atrocity, must have thought about it too.
And in my humble opinion, he thought about it after meeting the evil Bruno Kramm of Das Ich (producer of the album under review), and after the latter suggested that it would be very trendy to revive a golden decade for music, so tinged with Electro/pop.
That said, in 1997, Massacre Rec. released the compilation of covers titled "Werk 80", in which our beloved Germans engage in more or less plausible reinterpretations of ancient hits such as "Send me an angel", "Tainted love" (well before Reverend Manson released his version of the Soft Cell classic by Marc Almond), "Wild boys", and even "Let’s dance" by the indestructible David Bowie, not to mention the already mentioned "Shout", whose cover version was preemptively used as the lead single from the album under review.
In short, the idea is remarkable, like a perverse and wet pre-adolescent dream; the timing is just right, since the saturation of the sad and existential period that grunge brought with it is literally nauseating everyone a bit, metal is now static excluding the Korn phenomenon and related (forgive me, but I also include Sepultura’s "Roots bloody Roots" among the related, well knowing that the latter have nothing to do with what will become nu-metal), death metal is in deep crisis, thrash has been buried for ages, so what could be better than reviving the charm, the fun, the new romantic poses (that fused with a certain gothic Dadaism to then influence the look and sounds of dark/new wave bands still in circulation) of the fabulous '80s?
Well, not all donuts come out with a hole: if you look at the final realization of the "Werk 80" product, then you might notice that the first doubts arise from the choice of the tracklist. Alongside immortal songs like the ones already mentioned, there are others not particularly worthy of mention or historically less influential, like "Rage Hard" or "Maid of Orleans", while others like "The Great Commandment", "Der Mussolini", or "Being Boiled", despite the excellent final result, cannot certainly be counted among the mega hits of the eighties, to the extent that it is a bit difficult to recognize them, also due to the fact that these, like many other songs on the album, have been revisited by eliminating/ downgrading most of the electronic harmonic embellishments to then replace the melodic skeleton with powerful guitars and a human drum set. This is the case for tracks like "Let’s dance" and "Don’t go", the latter moreover hampered by the limited expressive capacity of our Krull on vocals (something that unfortunately affects the success of the entire album).
As for the purely technical side, there is little to complain about; the recording is excellent, even if the guitar sound is a bit lo-fi as it is too compressed and buzzing, the overall performance and interpretation of the proposed tracks is quite personal, and in 5 songs (including the same "Shout") there is the addition of the ethereal voice of the ubiquitous Liv Kristine Espanaes (it seems that the latter and good Krull cannot live/work separately), at the time still the voice of the overrated Theatre of Tragedy. The erotic artwork, all latex and classical instruments, is also excellent and appetizing.
In conclusion, "Werk 80" is certainly an interesting album for the originality of the proposal, even if the final result leaves a bit of a bitter taste, thinking about what could have been and what it actually was.
But hearing a "Wild Boys" like this is priceless. Try giving it a listen.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Shout (06:30)
Shout
Shout
Let it all out
These are the things I can do without
Come on
I'm talking to you
Come on
In violent times
You shouldn't have to sell your soul
In black and white
They really really ought to know
Those one track minds
That took you for a working boy
Kiss them goodbye
You shouldn't have to jump for joy
They gave you life
And in return you gave them Hell
As cold as I ice
I hope we live to tell the tale.
And when you've taken down your guard
If I could change your mind
I'd really love you break your heart
03 Wild Boys (04:13)
[Originally performed by Duran Duran]
Wild Boys, Wild Boys, Wild Boys
Wild Boys
Wild! (wild)
Boys! (boys)
The wild boys are calling on their way back from the fire
In august moon's surrender to a dust cloud on the rise
Wild boys fallen far from glory
reckless and so hungered on the razors edge you trail
Because there's murder by the roadside in a sore afraid new world
They tried to break us, looks like they'll try again
Wild boys - never lose it
Wild boys - never chose this way
Wild boys - never close your eyes
Wild boys - always shine
You got sirens for a welcome there's bloodstain for your pain
And your telephone been ringing wile you're dancing in the rain
Wild boys wonder where is glory
Where is all you angels now the figureheads have fell
And lovers war with arrows over secrets they could tell
They tried to tame you looks like they'll try again
Wild boys - never lose it
Wild boys - never chose this way
Wild boys - never close your eyes
Wild boys - always shine
04 The Great Commandment (03:32)
Some people suppress you
They partch you
And reap a disaster
Reeducation for the enfants
Who demanded for an innocent instance
The great commandment
Shows the contempt
Between the world and their
Embarassing pavement
Believe the scholars
Read the readings
Realize the man who says anything
The great commandment
The needies believe you
They treat you
Like survivors of a disaster
Reeducation for the enfants
Who demanded for an innocent instance
The great commandment...
05 Send Me an Angel (03:50)
Do you believe in heaven above
Do you believe in love
Don't tell a lie; don't be false or untrue
It all comes back to you
Open fire!
On my burning heart
I've never been lucky in love
My defenses are down; a kiss or a frown
I can't survive on my own
If a girl walks in and carves her name on my heart
I'll turn and run away
Every day we've all been led astray
It's hard to be lucky in love
It gets in your eyes
It's making you cry
Don't know what to do (don't know what to do)
You're looking for love
Calling heaven above
Send me an angel
Send me an angel
Right now
Right now
Send me an angel
Send me an angel
Right now
Right now
Empty dreams can only disappoint
In a room behind your smile
But don't give up
Don't give up
You can be lucky in love
It gets in your eyes
It's making you cry
Don't know what to do (don't know what to do)
You're looking for love
Callin' heaven above
Send me an angel
Send me an angel
Right now
Right now
Send me an angel
Send me an angel
Right now
06 Tainted Love (02:50)
Sometimes I feel I've got to. . . run away,
I've got to. . . get away
From the pain you drive into the heart of me.
The love we share seems to go nowhere,
And I've lost my life,
For I toss and turn; I can't sleep at night.
Chorus:
Once I ran to you, now I run from you.
This tainted love you've given,
I gave you all a boy could give you.
Take my tears and that's not really all. . .
Tainted love, ohh, tainted love
Now I know I've got to. . . run away,
I've got to. . . get away.
You don't really want any more from me.
To make things right you need someone to hold you tight,
And you think love is to pray,
But I'm sorry I don't pray that way.
Chorus
Don't touch me please, I cannot stand the way you tease.
I love you though you hurt me so.
Now I'm gonna pack my things and go.
Ohh, tainted love (repeat)
Touch me baby, tainted love (repeat & fade out)
07 Der Mussolini (03:50)
Geh in die knie. wackle mit den hueften. klatsch
In die haende. und tanz den mussolini. tanz den
Adolf hitler. beweg deinen hintern. und tanz den
Jesus christus.
Translation:
Get up. shake your hips. clap your hands. and dance
The mussolini. dance the adolf hitler. move your
Ass. and dance the jesus christ.
08 Being Boiled (03:52)
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Saying stop your sericulture
Little people like your offspring
Boiled alive for some gods stocking
Buddha's watching, Buddha's waiting
Just because the kid's an orphan
Is no excuse for thoughtless slaying
People don't forget this torture
Just because you call her mother
Doesn't mean that she's your better
Once more with the voice of Buddha
He'll say carry on your slaughter
Who cares for the little children
You may slice with no conviction
Blind revenge on a blameless victim
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Saying stop your sericulture
He'll say carry on your slaughter
Who cares for the little children
You may slice with no conviction
Blind revenge on a blameless victim
Listen to the voice of Buddha (repeat three times)
09 Don't Go (03:04)
[Originally performed by Yazoo]
Came in from the city walked into the door
I turned around when I heard the sound of footsteps on the floor
Love just like addiction now I'm hooked on you
I need some time to get it right
Your love gonna see me through
Can't stop now don't you know I ain't never gonna let you go
Don't go
Baby make your mind up give me what you got
Fix me with your lovin' shut the door and turn the lock
Hey go get the doctor, doctor came to late
Another night I feel alright my love for you can't wait
Came in from the city walked into the door
I turned around when I heard the sound of footsteps on the floor
Said he was a killer, now I know it's true
I'm dead when you walk out the door
Hey babe I'm hooked on you
10 Let's Dance (05:14)
[Originally performed by David Bowie]
Let's dance put on your red shoes and dance the blues
Let's dance to the song they're playin' on the radio
Let's sway while colour lights up your face
Let's sway sway through the crowd to an empty space
If you say run, I'll run with you
If you say hide, we'll hide
Because my love for you
Would break my heart in two
If you should fall
Into my arms
And tremble like a flower
Let's dance for fear your grace should fall
Let's dance for fear tonight is all
Let's sway you could look into my eyes
Let's sway under the moonlight, this serious moonlight
If you say run, I'll run with you
If you say hide, we'll hide
Because my love for you
Would break my heart in two
If you should fall
Into my arms
And tremble like a flower
Let's dance put on your red shoes and dance the blues
Let's dance to the song they're playin' on the radio
Let's sway you could look into my eyes
Let's sway under the moonlight, this serious moonlight
11 Maid of Orleans (04:11)
[Originally performed by O.M.D.]
If Joan of Arc had a heart,
would she give it as a gift
To such as me who longs to see,
how a legend oughta be
Had dreams to give her heart away,
like an orphan along the way
She cared so much,
she offered up her body to the grave
13 Die Deutschmaschine (04:26)
Aus dem Tal der Vergangenheit
Vergessen, doch stets bereit
Kam sie, um sich zu feiern
Bis in alle Ewigkeit
Sie glänzt so wunderbar
Macht Deine Träume wahr
Sie singt und tanzt und lacht
Denn Du gibst ihr neue Macht
Die Zukunft kauft sie sich
Dafür verkauft sie Dich
So stolz doch winzig klein
Sie muss was Deutsches sein
Die Deutschmaschine lebt
Die Deutschmaschine lebt
Die Deutschmaschine lebt
Die Deutschmaschine lebt
Maschinen dieser Welt
Bekämpft den falschen Helden
Ob Kreml oder Weisses Haus
Zieht uns den Stecker raus
Die Deutschmaschine lebt
Die Deutschmaschine lebt
Die Deutschmaschine lebt
Die Deutschmaschine lebt
Maschinen dieser Welt
Bekämpft den falschen Helden
Maschinen dieser Welt
Bekämpft den falschen Helden
Die Deutschmaschine lebt
Die Deutschmaschine lebt
Die Deutschmaschine lebt
Die Deutschmaschine lebt
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